Sleep apnea death is a serious problem and often happens to patients who have never complained of any problems. A complication of this disorder is that the tongue falls back into the throat and the patient can't breath. It's like being strangled but no one has their hands on your throat. When this blockage happens, the lungs try harder to breath and the heart beats more rapidly to get oxygen to all parts of the body. However, there's no oxygen getting into the lungs and to the body so the heart beats faster until it can't take the fast pace anymore. You then have a heart attack.
A related sleep apnea death can be caused by a fatal automobile accident. The night before a fatal accident, the patient continually struggled with suffocation incidents every few minutes. During each incident the patient almost woke up but never fully awakened. Each time this happened, the patient's deep REM sleep was interrupted and the patient never really got any life renewing REM sleep. The next morning the patient wakes up extremely tired and almost fell asleep at breakfast. Driving into work the patient accidentally fell asleep at the wheel and smashed into another car full of kids with their mom driving.
Sleep apnea death can be avoided if the problem is taken seriously and the patient seeks treatment. Obstructive sleep apnea can often be successfully treated using a dental device for sleep apnea which pulls the tongue forward and prevents the tongue from falling back into the throat and blocking the patient's airway. Unfortunately, dental treatment for sleep apnea is not common because physicians, not dentists, manage this disorder. Physicians are not dentists and they are not trained to do dental treatment so of course, they recommend what they were trained in.
Sleep apnea is serious disorder should be treated. Of course, avoiding a sleep apnea death is a good thing. The dentists at the Atlanta Dental Group PC are dedicated to their patients' good health and well being. You are welcome to join their family of patients. Dr. Mark Allan Padolsky, the sleep apnea dentist in our group, is familiar with this disorder and with the dental methods to manage it. If you wish to consult with Dr. Padolsky, call 404-874-7428.